Committee recommends Wood River attorney TIF reimbursement

ALTON — A brief, aldermanic Committee of the Whole meeting Monday moved forward commercial and residential TIF agreements on a Ridge Street property, and on two building demolitions.

Committee members unanimously recommended the City Council approve resolutions allowing GC Properties LLC (Wood River attorney Richard Gibson), to obtain up to $25,000 in tax increment financing money as partial reimbursement for eligible exterior and interior work in about 1,000 square feet of the lower, commercial level of a building at 327 Ridge St.

According to the resolution, the project would include site work, including paving a parking lot outside the former dry cleaners building with asphalt; interior construction and finish; installation of plumbing and heating-air conditioning-ventilation systems; and exterior façade improvements. Greg Caffey, Alton director of development and housing, said the owner would like to use the space for a small law office or insurance office.

The second resolution similarly would allow officials to sign a redevelopment agreement with Gibson allowing GC Properties to get up to $15,000 in TIF money that would go toward cost of renovating the second floor of the building into two apartments.

The reimbursements would be contingent upon the owner meeting requirements in the TIF agreements.

Regarding the proposed demolitions, the panel gave tentative approval for the city to pursue legal means to allow Alton to tear down derelict houses at 1124 Putnam St. and 3516 Hoover Drive. Other resolutions the committee recommended positively would allow for land the city obtained for the College Avenue and North Rodgers Bridge improvements to be dedicated as right-of-ways.

A final resolution the panel tentatively approved allows Public Works Director Bob Barnhart to accept a proposal from SNIP Alliance of Glen Carbon to hold dog and cat spay-neuter clinics at the public works facility. The dates would be Jan. 9, 10; Feb. 5, 7, 12, 13; and March 5, 6, 12 and 13.

The resolutions will come before the City Council on Wednesday. In December, aldermen meet in committee and as City Council in back-to-back weeks to wrap up the year’s business, including the property tax levy, and avoid having meetings that conflict with Christmas. The City Council also met last week and will reconvene in January.